Santa Cruz, 29, was a fan favourite during his first spell at Blackburn - scoring 25 goals in 57 appearances for the club - but he failed to replicate that form after moving to Manchester City in a £17.5 million deal in 2009 and has continued to struggle since returning to Rovers in the January transfer window.

The former Bayern Munich man has now gone eight games without a goal for Blackburn and has just one Premier League strike to his name in the past 16 months.

But despite Santa Cruz's poor form and fitness, Rovers will still be looking to make the striker's loan move permanent in the summer, if they can can thrash out terms with City.

The Paraguay international's £90,000-a-week wages are thought to be a sticking point with the Ewood Park hierarchy, but Kean hopes to overcome any financial obstacles to sign Santa Cruz, whose goal drought he believes will end soon.

"He has been banging them in in training and he probably just needs one to bobble off his shin and he will be off and running." Kean said.

"We would love to sign him. He wants to stay. But we tried to fix a price with City and they wouldn't do that."